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If you're in the habit of downloading software installers from CNET's Download.com, you may want to reconsider: The popular download site now wraps most of the software installers it hosts with opt-out bloatware.

I become aware of this the other day (when someone asked this question over on the WebApps Stack Exchange) and was very displeased. I didn't care for download.com already but now it blacklisted for me.

I have heard of some people trying to download a file from Download.com and having a second file download without their permission. It happened to me when Download.com was the only place to download Avast. I was given ComboFix, but everyone else was sent a useless program like a registry cleaner or RAM defragmenter. Since then, I have avoided Download.com.

Download.com has also had this problem with Nmap. They did not have consent from Nmap to host their software, yet they did and with added bloatware/adware. When The owner of Nmap confronted Download.com about this they said something along the lines of: We can post whatever downloads we want, and it is you responsibility to tell us to take it down if you don't like it.

The thing is they don't tell the developers that they are posting their software. I recommend staying away from CNET until they change their policies.

Location:the crazy city of Boston, In the North East reaches of New England

Local time:02:46 PM

Posted 12 January 2012 - 02:22 AM

How wonderful, yeah right, not! That further confirms my belief that a recent download from there that NOD32 blocked was the stupid wrapper program this time wrapping an XMPP server. Well, I could have avoided even having to dodge the block by going directly to the site which I didn't at first because I wanted to avoid providing a company information of mine that in my opinion they don't need when offering a free product. I ended up having to give the information to avoid being infected. (I allowed NOD32 to take Win32/InstallCore.C). But after reading the privacy policy on the site, I didn't mind their request of information, for now I give it freely, and so far, they've kept to their word.

it isn't always clear to people which "download" button to click, probably causing lots of people to accidentally install one of those registry "cleaners." Pretty yucky.

I clicked on the correct download link. At the time, clicking on the Download Now button opened another page with another download button. When I clicked on this link, my antivirus software immediately displayed a message that said it found Trojan.ADH in combofix.exe. After the file was automatically removed by the antivirus software, the prompt asking me if I wanted to run or save the file I actually wanted to download appeared. The other cases I heard about showed that the same thing happened, but the unwanted download wasn't blocked by their antivirus software.

I've had better luck downloading direct from the software source mostly depending in who is hosting their downloads .
Download.com used to be the spot many years ago but lately it seems they have been adding bloatware into their downloads
Frankp316 nailed it.